Effect of etching temperature and time on properties of solid-state nuclear track detector Cr-39

Abstract

Solid nuclear track detector (CR-39) is one of nuclear track detectors reagents used in various branches of science and technology. In current study, the effect of temperature and time on properties of solid state nuclear track detectors (CR-39) has been studied after irradiation with Am-241 for 5 hours.The detector was examined with different temperatures ( 50 ,60,70 and 80 °C) and different times (5, 6, 7 and 8 h), to got the ideal condition for the detector. The parameters of diameter (D), density of tracks (ρ), bulk etch rate (VB), track etch rate (VT), sensitivity of the detector (V) and etching efficiency (η) have been calculted. The results have shown the maximum diameter and intensity are 2.88(µm) and the density of tracks 517 (track/mm2 ) respectively, at the temperature 70 ° C at time 6 h. Whilst the lowest diameter is 0.53(µm) at a temperature 50° C and time 5h, while, the lowest density of tracks is 82 track/ mm2 at temperature 80° C and time 8h. The highest VB and VT are found to be 0.241 (µm2/h) at 70° C with 6 h and 0.389 (µm2/h) at 80° C with 6 h respectively. Whilst, the maximum V and η are 2.666 and 0.625 at 70° C with 8 h, respectively. Depend on the results, the optimal conditions for etching of the solid nuclear track detector CR-39 is 70° C at 6 h.